If Jeff Bezos, the billionaire Amazon mogul, can find time to eat with his family, we’re thinking there’s really nothing holding us back from doing the same.

We are all making a pact here at Dream Dinners to slow down in 2019. Sure, it’s easy to pack granola bars for breakfast in the car or throw an extra pack of snacks in the kids’ soccer bag. Really, at the end of the day, we just need to carve out some time to reconnect.

There have been myriad studies about the importance of nightly – or as close to nightly as possible – family dinners. Not only are they a way to unwind, relax and share stories, they have some substantial effects on the social and emotional development of children and lasting positive effects on adult relationships, as well.

4th of July is less than a week away and if you’re planning to attend an Independence Day event, showing up empty handed is usually not an option— this is a great weekend to bring your Dream Dinners along.

June’s menu has some great backyard BBQ recipes including:

Peach Bourbon Chicken with Garlic Asparagus Spears

Firecracker Beef Sliders

French Onion Turkey Burger on Pretzel Bun with Steak Fries

We also recommend taking a classic dinner and remixing into an inspired single-serving and shareable appetizer.

We have been rewarding one guest each month since October who has shared their Dream Dinners story with us through our #DinnerEffect contest with a $75 gift card. After three months and three winners, we are still wowed by each of your stories and are excited to announce our first winner of 2016.

These four families are just a few of the many submission we received for our January #DinnerEffect contest — thank you for taking the time to share your Dream Dinners experiences.

Did you know that children who participate in meal preparation with their mother or father tend to have better eating habits than those who don’t? Kids who help prepare their families’ meals tend to eat more fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber and are more willing to try new foods.

This month, we want to help you create opportunities to get your kids involved in the kitchen. Younger children can help with rinsing fruits and vegetables, tearing lettuce for a salad and cutting soft foods with a butter knife. Older kids can assist in creating these twists on our April menu, such as turning Meatloaf Milano into cupcakes.

Did you know that kids learn about food and eating at a very young age? That getting your kids involved in the kitchen can help shape their eating habits for the rest of their lives. Positive experiences about food early on in a child’s life may help them develop healthy eating habits in the future. A recent study found that children who are exposed to cooking through culinary classes or aiding a parent or family member in preparing their meals in their home will be more likely to choose healthier foods not only in your own home, but when they are outside of your home, too. Researchers also found that the children who were involved in meal preparation had a higher intake of fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber and an increased willingness to try new foods.

Need some fun ways to get your kids involved in the kitchen? Try these tips for all ages:

Did you know that children who participate in meal preparation with their mother or father tend to have better eating habits than those who don’t? Kids who help prepare their families’ meals tend to eat more fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber and are more willing to try new foods.

This month, we want to help you create opportunities to get your kids involved in the kitchen. Younger children can help with rinsing fruits and vegetables, tearing lettuce for a salad and cutting soft foods with a butter knife. Older kids can assist in creating these twists on our April menu, such as turning Chicken Costoletta into kid-friendly chicken fingers.

You asked, and we answered with March’s throwback menu! In honor of our anniversary month, we’re bringing back five of our most requested meals from past menus. These old favorites are only available for a limited time, so make sure to add them to your March order.

Never tried these dinners before? You can trust that these new-to-you meals won’t fail to impress. These are all fan favorite recipes that have withstood the test of time, and you won’t want to miss them.

White Chicken Lasagna
This creamy lasagna is layered with tender diced chicken breast, wild mushroom pesto, and spinach. Then topped with Parmesan and the unexpected elegance of toasted pecans. One pan goes from freezer to table in about an hour. Easy for entertaining!

Pesto Chicken Stuffed French Bread
This old favorite has been updated with more sauce and cheese… so delicious! Our signature stuffed French bread bursts with a basil pesto cream cheese spread. Stuffed with chicken and artichoke hearts for an easy dinner. Comes out golden brown and bubbling with flavor.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romantic gestures for your significant other. It’s also the perfect time to show your family how much you care. Take advantage of the holiday weekend and try one of these special ideas that are sure to make their day and may even become a new Valentine’s tradition!

Spend the afternoon crafting homemade Valentines with your kids. They’ll be so excited to share their creations with their friends, siblings and even grandparents! These ideas from Pinterest are simple and sweet, but you could also go all out with lots of glitter, heart shapes and lace doilies.

Sneak fun Valentine-themed treats and a little love note into their lunch at school this week.

Place a card at each family members’ spot at the dinner table and have each person write a special message in each card throughout the day. Then, when you sit down for dinner, you’ll each have a special note with messages of love from the whole family.

Eating dinner by candlelight is an easy way to make family dinner extra special for Valentine’s Day. Pull out the pink and red decor, leave a box of chocolate on each person’s plate, light the candles and serve a delicious meal like Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara. This is a tradition you’ll come back to year after year!

When you’re busy planning your family’s Thanksgiving gathering, the last thing on your mind are all the dinners in between. We’ve got a week’s worth of easy dinners all planned out so you don’t have to! With crockpot meals and dinners that go straight from your freezer to the oven, you can spend less time worrying about what’s for dinner and more time enjoying this season of thankfulness.

Need a little help with meal planning this week? We’ve got a week’s worth of easy dinners perfect for busy nights and festive Halloween-themed meals all planned out. Be sure to follow our Fall Favorites board on Pinterest for even more ideas!

Sunday:
You might need a little extra time to make this Roasted Butternut Squash Spiderweb Soup, but the delicious fall flavors are worth it! Another option is to make your favorite creamy soup and draw a spiderweb on top for an easy, fun dinner.

Monday:
These Halloween Baked Potato Skin Pizzas are easy to throw together with a little help from the kids. Use pizza toppings such as pepperoni and olives to create everything from Dracula faces and mummies to spiders and jack-o-lanterns.

Tuesday:
How fun are these Jack O’Lantern Shepherd’s Pie Stuffed Peppers? They’re also deceptively simple to make. Just use a paring knife to carve faces in your orange bell peppers and fill them with mashed potatoes, browned ground beef, veggies and gravy.

Keep the Tradition

At Dream Dinners, we want to keep traditions, both new and old, alive for generations to enjoy. We want to make it easier for you to continue favorite customs like cooking with your kids or eating a homemade meal together. We also want to give families ideas on how to introduce new traditions that can be enjoyed year after year. This blog allows us to give you simple tips and tricks about food and family, so you can bring these special moments to life in your home and savor them for years to come.